All About the Causes of Infertility

If you or someone you know is coping with infertility, you probably have many concerns.  Infertility is defined as the inability of a couple to become pregnant after one year of unprotected sex.

Yet there are many causes of infertility. Some causes of infertility are attributed to the male. Other causes are related to the female. Still other causes of infertility can be from a combination of factors or even unexplained altogether.

Underlying causes of infertility

Despite the medical advances and understanding of infertility, the underlying causes remain the same:

• problems with ovulation (egg production)
• anatomic problems such as fallopian tube blockage
• endometriosis (a common cause of pelvic disease)
• cervical mucus problems
• male factors such as low sperm counts or poor motility.

Is the incidence of infertility increasing?

There are two common trends that may increase the chance of infertility:

1. Women are waiting longer to get pregnant. The age factor alone is of vital importance. Yet also with aging, there’s a greater risk of developing endometriosis or progression of other gynecological disorders; and
2. In general, there are an increased number of sexual partners, which increases the risk of scarred tubes.

Age affects your ability to get pregnant

Age is the largest barrier to being able to have a baby. Female fertility is optimal for women in their mid-twenties when menstrual cycles are most regular and ovulatory. Also, fertility is slightly decreased before age 20 and after age 30. Women over age 37 are much less fertile.

The steady decline of eggs production becomes more pronounced after age 30 and rapidly declines as women approach 40.

Male infertility

Most problems with male infertility have to do with the man’s overall health and lifestyle habits that may result in poor quality sperm, low sperm count, or an inability for the sperm to reach and fertilize the egg.

Problems with impaired sperm function could be related to varicocele (a varicose vein in the testicle), impaired movement or shape of the sperm, low sperm count, or other problem. 

Prior illnesses and infections may also cause infertility as can sexual issues such as erectile dysfunction, no semen, obesity, and lifestyle issues.

That’s why it’s important for men to be medically evaluated and discuss with their physician:

• sexual development during puberty
• sexual history
• previous and present illnesses
• medication use
• smoking and alcohol use
• surgery
• illnesses
• infections
• environmental exposures (toxins, steroids, radiation or chemotherapy)

What type of specialist treat infertility?

Many women rely on their gynecologist or ob/gyn for preventive therapies. In addition to providing treatment for female medical conditions, many of these doctors offer infertility treatment as part of a comprehensive ob/gyn practice.

An ob/gyn may provide ultrasounds, semen analysis, fertility drugs, intrauterine inseminations, or surgery to treat infertility. Most gynecologists work alongside reproductive endocrinologists when a speedy referral is needed.

If there are extensive problems contributing to infertility, you may want to consider a reproductive endocrinologist (RE) or fertility specialist. This physician is an ob/gyn who has additional training in the subspecialty area of reproductive endocrinology. An RE should be board certified in reproductive medicine.

Working with an RE is a wise choice when your biological clock is rapidly ticking away and coexisting illnesses and/or much-needed treatments are causing infertility complications.

by Attain Fertility Health Desk

Sources: Resolve: Frequently Asked Questions About Infertility MayoClinic.com: Infertility: Causes American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM): Frequently Asked Questions About Infertility Bruce DF, Thatcher, S. Making a Baby: Everything you need to know to get pregnant.  http://attainfertility.com/article/causes-infertility